Balanga Bishop Ruperto C. Santos, vice chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines- Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) and promoter of the Stella Maris Philippines expressed support for the idea of providing refuge to the affected Ukrainian refugees.
“That is good news to our humanity. We have done that before and we did it successfully and fruitfully. We have welcomed the so-called boat people, those who fled the Indochina wars and provided temporary shelter for them in Morong Bataan,” Bishop Santos said over Radio Veritas.
The prelate expressed gratitude to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra who earlier said that the Philippines is open to providing refuge to Ukrainian refugees currently estimated by the United Nations to more than a million.
President Duterte has signed Executive Order no.163 that seeks to provide protection and assistance to refugees affected by the on-going war between Ukraine and Russia.
“That will be our gift to give to the whole world,” Bishop Santos stressed as he assured the support of the CBCP-ECMI and the Stella Maris Philippines to the initiative.
“We have issued a Pastoral Statement praying for an end to the war, for a change of heart for those who called the war and protection to all particularly migrants and seafarers. We at the diocese and the chaplains of Stella Maris are offering Holy Masses for the conversion of Russia to foster peace and to stop the invasion,” the Church leader said.